The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM, President Park Sang-jin), under the Ministry of Science and ICT, analyzed that the bio equipment industry requires a national-level response and must secure competitiveness through preemptive R&D investment.

The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) recently published the 112th issue of its Machinery Technology Policy, titled "Trends and Implications of the Bio Equipment Industry," which analyzes recent trends in the bio equipment industry and contains its implications, and announced recommendations to strengthen the competitiveness of Korea's bio equipment industry.

Bio equipment refers to machinery used in the bio-industry that utilizes biotechnology. Due to the demanding nature of industries such as bio, pharmaceutical, and medical sectors, it is characterized by stringent performance requirements and a monopolistic dominance by foreign brands for specific product categories.

The global bio equipment market is projected to grow at an average annual rate of 11% from $52.7 billion in 2022 to surpass $100 billion by 2028, whereas the domestic bio equipment market is less than $300 million, with two-thirds of it consisting of imported products.

The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) emphasizes the urgent need to foster the bio equipment industry and strengthen its competitiveness, stating that for Korea to secure a leading position in the bio equipment market, the following are required: △development of small-scale bio equipment △development of cost-effective connected equipment systems △expansion of industry-academia-research collaboration △use of disposable bio-process equipment △development of automated equipment systems △It was analyzed that a transition to connected smart laboratories is necessary.

The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) conducted a "Survey on Demand for Bio Equipment to Establish a New Industry Manufacturing Platform" to identify the current status of equipment used by demand companies and the equipment they wish to purchase, as well as the current status of equipment sold by equipment companies and the equipment they wish to sell. Furthermore, to strengthen the competitiveness of Korea's bio equipment industry, it proposed the leading development of source technologies to prepare for the future market, including responding to the industrial ecosystem and establishing R&D support strategies based on industry-academia-research collaboration.

Lee Woon-kyu, a principal researcher at the Mechanical Technology Policy Center of the Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM), stated, “Bio equipment is based on the competitiveness of advanced biotechnology, a national strategic technology, and therefore requires a strategic response at the national level.” He added, “Collaboration among industry, academia, and research institutes, R&D support tailored to corporate needs, and preemptive R&D investment for future markets are crucial.”

The Korea Institute of Machinery and Materials (KIMM) publishes the specialized journal 'Machine Technology Policy' at least four times a year, which analyzes trends in the machinery industry and proposes policies, and fulfills the role of a think tank as a national research institute in the field of machinery. You can subscribe to and download 'Machine Technology Policy' from the KIMM website (https://www.kimm.re.kr/).